2024 | Celine Mazoukh, Luigi Di Lauro, Imtiaz Alamgir, Bennet Fischer, Nicolas Perron, A. Aadhi, Armaghan Eshaghi, Brent E. Little, Sai T. Chu, David J. Moss, Roberto Morandotti
This paper presents a novel approach to generate and tailor microcombs using genetic algorithms (GAs). Microcombs, generated in microcavities, are highly efficient optical sources with applications in metrology, sensing, and telecommunications. Traditional methods for customizing microcombs often rely on manual exploration of a large parameter space, which is impractical and lacks versatility. The proposed method employs GAs to autonomously optimize parameters for generating and tailoring stable microcombs. The scheme controls optical parametric oscillation in a microring resonator to achieve broadband microcombs spanning the entire telecommunication C-band. The high flexibility of the approach allows for the generation of complex microcomb spectral envelopes corresponding to various operation regimes, with potential applications in different microcavity geometries and materials. The work provides a robust and effective solution for targeted soliton crystal and multi-soliton state generation, with future potential for next-generation telecommunication applications and artificial intelligence-assisted data processing. The experimental setup, operation principle, and results are detailed, demonstrating the effectiveness of the GA in generating and characterizing microcombs with desired spectral features. The method is versatile and can be adapted to different microcavity geometries and materials, making it a promising solution for real-world applications.This paper presents a novel approach to generate and tailor microcombs using genetic algorithms (GAs). Microcombs, generated in microcavities, are highly efficient optical sources with applications in metrology, sensing, and telecommunications. Traditional methods for customizing microcombs often rely on manual exploration of a large parameter space, which is impractical and lacks versatility. The proposed method employs GAs to autonomously optimize parameters for generating and tailoring stable microcombs. The scheme controls optical parametric oscillation in a microring resonator to achieve broadband microcombs spanning the entire telecommunication C-band. The high flexibility of the approach allows for the generation of complex microcomb spectral envelopes corresponding to various operation regimes, with potential applications in different microcavity geometries and materials. The work provides a robust and effective solution for targeted soliton crystal and multi-soliton state generation, with future potential for next-generation telecommunication applications and artificial intelligence-assisted data processing. The experimental setup, operation principle, and results are detailed, demonstrating the effectiveness of the GA in generating and characterizing microcombs with desired spectral features. The method is versatile and can be adapted to different microcavity geometries and materials, making it a promising solution for real-world applications.